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Growing Up Beth

As alert Readers already know, of Tufters’ and Tacey’s four chicks this year, only Beth survived. LBI sadly lost our three other Piping Plover chicks born this season, Joe, Amy, and Meg.You might remember her from such films as Goin’ Rogue, the movie and The Baby Bag. Beth was the oldest of the four itty-bitties named after the Little Women. For those who know the story, Beth was the one that died.It seemed like the kiss of death naming her Beth, but it turned out to be more of a reverse-kiss-of-death in reality.Despite losing her three sisters, Beth somehow managed to survive the chaotic onslaught of humans, gulls, trucks, crows, dogs, and ATVs at Barnegat Light State Park.And with some help along the way has managed to grow up to be a real Big Gurl.Teenage DreamOur adorbz little itty-bity Beth is now a gangly, awkward teenage Plover, and well on her way to becoming a proper and fully-fledged Lady PIPL.Birth of a FeatherAnd with those feathers, Beth has achieved something very difficult for our local beach nesting animals to achieve: she has managed to stay alive for more than 25 days. That means she has “fledged” and is ready to fly.

Congratulations to Beth, her Father Tufters, her Mother Tacey, and to her home, LBI! Despite the loss of Joe, Meg, and Amy, we’ve added one more Piping Plover to the Beach, and with that comes the hope that we might somehow find a way to share the Island with our precious local animals before we squash them completely.

Beth should be around for a little while longer this Summer as she learns to maneuver those itty-bitty wings. But just in case she has already figured out that she is destined for greatness now that she is a very rare banded PIPL, and an Ambassador for her species, and decides to leave for her first Winter in the Bahamas with great haste…. we’ll say, Godspeed Beth!